Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for Shifting Gears episode 3.cast of characters in Shifting Gears, but the actor has a long list of memorable roles leading up to the ABC sitcom. Aside from past TV sensations like Home Improvement or Last Man Standing, Allen has a filmography dating back to the early 90s.
Despite Shifting Gears receiving poor initial reviews following its first two episodes, the comedy has continued to rake in millions of viewers each week. Whether the bulk of the audience is there for the show itself or simply to watch Tim Allen is another question, but there’s no doubt Shifting Gears has potential for commercial success if not critical. With such a significant audience, it’s possible the clever ending of Shifting Gears episode 3 didn’t land for every viewer, but fans of the actor will certainly get its importance.
Matt's Last Line In Shifting Gears Is A Nod To Allen's Role in The Santa Clause Franchise
Tim Allen Debuted The Role In 1994
Shifting Gears episode 3 (“Jobs”) followed Riley’s (Kat Dennings) search for a career while she clashes with Allen’s Matt over how to monitor her children. In the final scene, Matt pretends to track Riley’s son Carter (Maxwell Simkins) to a liquor store and tattoo parlor. After she runs out of the door, Carter and Matt laugh about how gullible Riley is. Matt responds: “You don’t know how many years it took to convince her that I wasn’t Santa Claus.” The uproarious laughter that followed confirmed it was meant as a subtle callback to The Santa Clause.
Tim Allen's Comeback Sitcom Flips The Premise Of George Lopez's 3-Season NBC Comedy
Tim Allen’s new sitcom casts a light on a strained father-daughter relationship, but Shifting Gears is reminiscent of George Lopez’s ongoing comedy.
Shifting Gears has made casual callbacks to Allen’s previous roles before, like Mike Baxter's emerald green truck from Last Man Standing being the repair shop’s latest project. So explicitly mentioning his role in The Santa Clause franchise, however, is a tribute to the actor's lengthy career. Playing Scott Calvin/Santa Claus catapulted Tim Allen's fame to new heights in the mid-90s, with the role still ongoing a few of decades later.
Allen's Return As Scott Calvin In The Santa Clauses Season 3 Remains In Limbo
Disney Has Yet To Renew The Series
In 2022, nearly 30 years after the original film, Allen reprised his role as Scott Calvin to lead the cast of The Santa Clauses. The Disney series followed his version of Santa Claus as he returned from retirement, with his unique family dynamics coming to the forefront. After airing two seasons, The Santa Clauses went on an indefinite hiatus. Disney hasn’t confirmed season 3 will happen, but The Santa Clauses hasn’t been canceled, either.
Tim Allen's The Santa Clauses co-star is Elizabeth Mitchell, who originated the role of Carol Calvin/Mrs. Claus in The Santa Clause 2 (2002).
Tim Allen likely spent 2024 filming for Shifting Gears, which could explain why The Santa Clauses didn’t air a new season last year. With Shifting Gears season 2 still up in the air, it’s possible Allen could return to The Santa Clauses before filming more episodes of his streamer comedy. Regardless of if or when Scott Calvin returns, Shifting Gears episode 3’s ending was a nice moment to appreciate the decades of Allen’s Santa Claus.
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Shifting Gears continues Wednesday at 8 ET on ABC.
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5/10Shifting Gears is a drama about Matt, a widowed owner of a classic car restoration shop. Matt’s estranged daughter Riley and her teenage children move into his home, challenging him to rebuild both familial and personal connections.
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The Santa Clauses
- Release Date
- 2022 - 2023-00-00
Tim Allen returns as Scott Calvin in The Santa Clauses, a mini-series follow-up to the original Santa Clause trilogy. Scott has spent thirty years spreading Christmas cheer and managing operations in the North Pole as Santa Clause, but he notices a change is coming. With Christmas's popularity declining and Scott's inability to keep up with the pressures of his job and be a capable father, Scott discovers there may be a way to step down from his role. Scott begins his search for his new successor so that he can finally adjust his priorities for his family.
